The rainy season started in September with early light rains in northern provinces and the central plateau. Land preparation and planting are at an advanced stage in most parts of the country but dry conditions persist in some southern areas. Widespread precipitation in November favoured the development of recently planted coarse grain crops to be harvested in April 1997. Prospects are good so far as the continuing relative peace gives hope for increased planting of land that had previously been left idle because of poor security. Improvements are also expected in the provision of seeds and farming implements, as pledged assistance continue to reach the country. Some 530 000 families are benefiting from the 1996/97 seed and tool distribution campaign.
The food supply situation remains a cause for concern despite improvements in foodcrops production and distribution of relief food. Although available food supplies are adequate, the logistics of moving these to vulnerable groups remains a major problem requiring international assistance. Cereal import requirement for 1996/97 is estimated at 442 000 tons. Although most of the requirement is expected to be covered by food aid, pledges made so far amounted to 181 500 tons, of which 96 500 tons have been delivered.
Planting of 1997 coarse grain crops is complete in the highlands and is proceeding in the lowlands under generally favourable weather conditions. Rains in late October and in November were abundant in northern and eastern areas, and they have been generally adequate to ensure satisfactory crop establishment.
The food supply situation in 1996/97 continues to be satisfactory. Following a good harvest, the cereal import requirement is estimated at 200 000 tons, most of which will be secured commercially.
Rains in November favoured seeding and germination of recently planted mountain coarse grain crops. Planting is underway in the foothills under favourable conditions. 1995/96 winter wheat is being harvested and output is expected to be above-average. Reflecting a sharp upwards revision in the official estimates of 1996 production, a record cereal crop of 254 000 tons has been confirmed, which is nearly five times output in the previous year.
As a result of the bumper crop, the overall food supply situation in the 1996/97 marketing year is expected to improve considerably. The cereal import requirement is now estimated at about 150 000 tons, most of which would be covered by commercial imports.
Rain in October fell only in southern areas, though widespread rains were received in November, covering most of the country. The prospects for the recently planted rice crop are favourable. The aggregate output of (milled) rice and coarse grains in 1995/96 are provisionally estimated at 1.85 million tons, which is above-average and reflects generally good rains during the main growing season.
The overall food supply situation remains satisfactory. As a result of a good 1995/96 harvest, the country is expected to cover most of its rice needs. The cereal import requirement for 1996/97 is estimated at 140 000 tons, to be covered mainly by commercial imports.
Following generally dry weather conditions in October, light rains were received in November in southern and central parts of the country improving the level of soil moisture. This favoured the planting and establishment of coarse grain crops to be harvested from April. However, more rains are needed in the weeks ahead to ensure normal development of crops. Red locusts originating from the border with Mozambique may threaten the 1997 crop unless strong control measures are taken.
The food supply situation in 1996/97 remains generally favourable following a good cereal and cassava harvest in 1996. Current supplies cover most of the cereal requirements including the replenishment of stocks.
Planting of the 1996/97 cereal crops is underway but rainfall was inadequate in October and November, particularly in northern provinces where dry conditions persisted. Sparse rains recorded in November in most growing areas of the central and southern provinces allowed farmers to prepare their land and start planting. Red locust swarms continue to be reported in central provinces of Manica, Sofala, Tete and Zambezia and in the northern province of Niassa. The government has appealed for international assistance. Some support has come from Zimbabwe which has offered 10 000 litres of insecticide and made two aircraft available to counter locusts. FAO has also initiated some control measures, but more assistance is needed to protect the new season crop.
The food supply situation has improved considerably following above-average cereal production earlier in the year and adequate food aid. However, there are still several areas where vulnerable groups cannot be reached easily because of logistic constraints. The estimate of cereal import requirement remains at 300 000 tons. Food aid pledges amount to 164 000 tons, of which 69 500 tons have been delivered so far.
Following dry weather conditions in October, widespread rains were received in November, particularly in the southern half of the country. Although scattered showers reached parts of the northern crop growing regions, the cumulative rainfall has so far been below normal. Pasture conditions in several areas have not yet recovered from the 1996 drought. The maize crop planted in the flood plain areas of Caprivi is at flowering stage and in good condition. Elsewhere, dry ploughing is the major field activity underway.
Harvesting of irrigated winter wheat is complete and output is expected to be lower than earlier anticipated due to a reduction in water supply and some damage by rain storms in early November.
The national food supply situation in 1996/97 remains favourable. Cereal stocks and planned imports virtually cover the national requirement . However, some 180 000 people remain food-insecure. Food distribution under the Government�s drought relief programme continues for vulnerable people in northern and pastoral areas.
The planting of coarse grains to be harvested in April/June 1997 is proceeding under generally favourable conditions. Following dry conditions in the first half of October which precluded early planting, widespread rains were received in late October and much of November throughout the eastern corn belt, improving corn planting prospects. In the west, most corn growing areas received adequate preplanting rains in November. Overall, rains across main producing areas have raised soil moisture to adequate levels, favouring seed germination and early crop development in most areas. However, the government has recently warned that swarms of red locusts could infest major crop producing areas. This will be the first locust invasion since the 1940s. The areas that are most affected so far are the Northern Province and the Pretoria district.
Harvesting of 1996 winter wheat is proceeding under generally favourable conditions. Output is estimated at 2.6 million tons compared to 2.0 million tons in 1995, as a result of favourable rainfall in major growing areas of Western Cape and Free State provinces.
The 1995/96 maize crop is estimated at 10.2 million tons, more than double the previous year�s harvest. Despite the bumper crop, a shortage of yellow maize is anticipated, as a result of excessive exports. As a consequence, private traders are planning imports of some 250 000 tons of yellow maize.
Planting of 1996/97 maize, which normally accounts for about 95 percent of aggregate cereal production, is underway. Widespread rainfall received in late October and November favoured seeding. This is still inadequate to ensure a satisfactory level of soil moisture and more rains are needed in the weeks to come.
The final official estimates of 1996 maize production is 135 600 tons, much higher than the earlier figure of 108 000 tons. As a result of the improved domestic supply situation, the cereal import requirement is estimated at a reduced level of 33 000 tons, which can be readily met by commercial channels.
Following dry weather in October, widespread light rains were received in November, particularly in the western half of the country. This provided favourable conditions for planting and germination of the 1996/97 coarse grain crops. Parts of the east and north-east remained dry and more rains are needed in these areas to encourage large plantings of crops. The harvesting of the 1996 wheat is nearing completion. Output is estimated at 50 000 tons, which is above last year's level and close to the average of the previous 5 years. Reflecting the good cereal harvest of 1996, the food supply situation is satisfactory. The government continues to issue export permits to private traders for maize exports, particularly to neighbouring countries such as Zaire and Mozambique.
The planting of the 1996/97 coarse grain crops, mostly maize, is advancing under generally favourable weather conditions, following widespread rains in late October and early November. However, districts in the east and north had an overall late start of rains and continue to lag behind the rest of the country. Harvesting of the winter wheat is nearly complete. The output is estimated at 260 000 tons, which is above-average and should cover more than half of the country�s needs. However, the crop may be affected by red locust swarms which invaded the country from neighbouring Mozambique in August, mostly hitting districts in the south and east. The government has launched intensive control measures early in the season against red locusts to restrict damage.
Reflecting the above-average cereal crop in 1996, the national food supply situation is satisfactory. The Grain Marketing Board, which has a monopoly on maize exports, plans to export 295 000 tons of maize and to build up the Strategic Grain Reserve to a targeted level of 600 000 tons. As of mid- September, 100 000 tons of maize exports had left Zimbabwe, destined for Japan, Venezuela, and Angola.